The former Democratic lieutenant governor nominee, who dropped out in February after unflattering disclosures about his personal life, filed 133,170 signatures with the State Board of Elections in Springfield this afternoon. Cohen needs 25,000 valid signatures to withstand possible challenges.

Cohen spokesman John Davis acknowledged the campaign paid petition circulators $1.50 a signature. The ballot drive was coordinated in part by former Gangster Disciples leader Wallace “Gator” Bradley. Bradley said he had a contract to circulate petitions for Cohen, but the campaign declined to explain Bradley’s role.

Quinn today refused to say if he would challenge Cohen's signatures, saying he is instead focused on a competition at the ballot box. Quinn said that when compared to other candidates, his record will demonstrate he is the best person for the state's top job while Cohen will have to "show the people he has any record whatsoever."

"I have no idea of the signatures that were filed, but I am more anxious in having a contest of ideas at the ballot box than having any kind of outside battle," Quinn said. "If somebody thinks they are better than I am at being governor, well, they are entitled to compete and we'll see if the voters feel the same way."

Quinn also dismissed the notion that Cohen might take away Democratic votes, saying he's been focused on wrapping up business from the spring legislative session and has not yet begun to campaign.

"I am confident when it comes to Nov. 2, I'll be on top," Quinn said.

Quinn was faced with the prospect of having Cohen as his Democratic running mate after the little-known pawnbroker spent $2 million of his own money to win the Feb. 2 primary. But Democratic leaders including Quinn pressured Cohen to drop out after disclosures that Cohen was accused of putting a knife to the throat of his prostitute girlfriend. In divorce records, Cohen’s ex-wife accused him of using illegal steroids, rages and abusive behavior, including choking her. Cohen eventually dropped out at halftime of the Super Bowl at a North Side restaurant and bar.

Cohen resurfaced months later saying he would mount an independent bid for governor. Today, Cohen repeatedly brushed aside questions about prior allegations of physical abuse and drug use, saying those were issues of the past.

Cohen said voters are looking for a "new face and fresh ideas."

"I offer them honesty, not perfection," Cohen said.

Citing the number of signatures, Cohen said, "I believe that it will be nearly impossible for Gov. Quinn to remove me from the ballot."

Cohen pulled the more than 3-foot-high stack of paper from a black SUV and delivered the signatures with a hand truck.

"At first I was a little bit hesitant or worried that maybe people wouldn't sign," Cohen said. "I was completely wrong. People were very anxious to sign and made it very clear that they're anxious to vote in the general election in November."

Cohen, 45, said most of the signatures on the 8,878 pages came from the Cook County area.

Davis acknowledged that some of the petition circulators have not been paid, and said Cohen planned to deposit money in his campaign immediately after finishing the task of filing in Springfield, and he promised that unpaid workers would received what they’re owed over the next two or three days.

All 50 aldermen on the Chicago City Council had to file paperwork earlier this year detailing their outside income and gifts. The Tribune took that ethics paperwork and posted the information here for you to see. You can search by ward number or alderman's last name.

The Cook County Assessor's office has put together lists of projected median property tax bills for all suburban towns and city neighborhoods. We've posted them for you to get a look at who's paying more and who's paying less.

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Clout has a special meaning in Chicago, where it can be a noun, a verb or an adjective. This exercise of political influence in a uniquely Chicago style was chronicled in the Tribune cartoon "Clout Street" in the early 1980s. Clout Street, the blog, offers an inside look at the politics practiced from Chicago's City Hall to the Statehouse in Springfield, through the eyes of the Tribune's political and government reporters.